Curate note: Audio Books & Poetry. In his 'Metamorphoses,' Ovid weaves a rich tapestry of images from nature and imagination, one story blending into the next and frequently referencing earlier or later episodes. Drawn from Greek mythology and Latin folklore, Ovid's common theme is transformation. This selection is approximately 10% of the entire work, and is about four and a half hours of listening. Alas, many famous stories are omitted, and also most of the really gory chapters. Metamorphoses was released in the year 8 CE [common era] :-: 8 CE = 8 AD - and now, two thousand years later, in 2008, I have created this commemorative audio version. Ovid has influenced the greatest writers, from Shakespeare to Nietzsche, and is held in near-reverence by many for his storytelling ability. Employing the trick of "frame stories," Ovid has stories within stories; thus the tapestries in the Arachne story are triggers for numerous sub-stories, often just referential phrases telling deep stories in content-rich prose... These stories have been watered down in today's versions, and much of the dark and 'cthonic' has been edited out. The story of the Bacchae, omitted here because it's so often done on its own, is actually a disturbing, violent affair. Many stories involve 'forbidden' sex combinations and may arouse squeamishness... Ovid himself actually warns 'Fathers and daughters to not listen to the story of Myrrh and Cinryas.' Women are either ethereal nymphs or bloodthirsty witches.  The first six clips are read in both English and Latin, alternating by verse. The last four are only in English. I read the Latin with my own attempt at pre-ecclesiastical pronounciation. . . It's kind of experimental. Because of the way the stories are wound together, there is no need to listen to them in order, either...  

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